About Us

LexRAP is a group of concerned people from Lexington and surrounding communities calling itself the Lexington Refugee Assistance Program or “LexRAP.” Our focus is to make Lexington a welcoming place for refugees and to help them directly.

Mission

LexRAP is a Lexington-based 501C non-profit organization helping refugees to settle in the United States and to become productive and well-adjusted members of the community.  The mission of LexRAP is to support and to assist refugees and asylum seekers into American society. This assistance includes a support network for housing, food, clothing, transportation, health care, education (especially English), employment, legal aid, and socialization. Beneficiaries of this assistance must have received (or be legally seeking) permission to live in the U.S., either temporarily or permanently.

Hand in Hand Cafe

UPDATE: While it will come as no surprise, sadly, we have had to cancel the June Hand-in-Hand dinner.  As we navigate our new future, we hope to start up dinners again but I fear that will not be for quite a while.
Naomi and the Hand-in-Hand team
Last Spring First Parish Lexington and LexRAP launched the Hand in Hand Cafe, where local refugee women will cook dinners for paying guests. The women will prepare the meal together and eat with the guests and enjoy conversation. One of the goals of these dinners is to build community and understanding. Equally important is to provide a chance for the women to learn job skills related to the food industry.

Donate

Tax-exempt  donations support LexRAP
initiatives. Online donations will be processed by PayPal.

Sustaining Monthly Donation

One time Donation

By Check

Please mail checks made out to "LexRAP" to:
​LexRAP
PO Box 244
Lexington, MA 02420
Email Don Detweiler with any questions you may have about donations.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE to raise a Carlisle Syrian refugee family

The First Religious Society’s (FRS)Union Hall was full to capacity Saturday night as it hosted a delicious Syrian-themed dinner to benefit the Alloh family, Syrian refugees who relocated to Carlisle in 2017. This event had been well anticipated by the FRS community for weeks—with many adults and children planning, organizing and preparing.  Even the Religious Education program’s children and teen-aged youth had been active baking cookies and making hand-painted bowls to be given as gifts to guests.

... more

How do refugees get to the U.S and what is LexRAP doing to help with their resettlement?

Current Focus
LexRAP currently focuses on 3 areas: Hosting Asylum Seekers, Hosting Unaccompanied Minors, and Assisting Refugees who, for any number of reasons, are having difficulties navigating the challenging terrain of adapting to life in the US. 
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While some may be able to make the bigger commitment of hosting, other volunteers are ready and willing to support their efforts. In addition, we keep a list of agencies working with refuges and asylum seekers – many of these agencies will welcome volunteer help.

Join Us
We are currently seeking volunteers to assist in any way possible, with either major or modest time commitments. All assistance is welcome. Click here to find out how you can help .

Stay informed
Join our email list to stay up to date on current LexRAP events and  needs. 

Who We Are​

Officers
Marianne Boswell, President & Founder
Don Detweiler, Vice President
Ingrid Klimoff,   Secretary
Omar Khudari, Treasurer

Board
Thomas Tsaros
Laura Tandara
Pat Moyer
Elizabeth Ellen
Marianne Boswell
Don Detweiler
Ingrid Klimoff​
Naomi Rosenthal
LexRAP Bylaws